Black and white photos by a camera artist from Leverett, Mass., are on view at the Museum of Fine Arts from May 8 through September 9 in the exhibition Explorations: Photographs by Robert Hallock. There will be a free reception with the photographer on Wednesday, June 6, from 5-7 p.m. at the museum.

Hallock's photos reveal beauty in often-overlooked details, such as a hinge on an abandoned barn, a doorway, or a fern by the roadside. He is also drawn to images that have a smaller hidden image within them. "I like to create photographs that may convey something serene or tranquil," he said. "And in all cases, I strive for the right light. We are blessed in the Pioneer Valley in New England with ever changing lighting conditions, to the pleasure and frustration of all who photograph here." Hallock is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He was given his first camera when he was about ten years old and has been involved with photography for more than 40 years. Since the 1990s, when he began to use his 4 x 5 wooden field camera, he has worked primarily in black and white. He has studied with several well-known photographers and is a member of the Pioneer Valley Photographic Artists, Western New England Large Format Photographers, and Photo-lunch. His work is in private and corporate collections, and has been exhibited in many gallery shows.